All westbound lanes of James River Freeway in a busy part of Springfield will close starting Sept. 16 for work to repair a sinkhole.
The work area is between U.S. Highway 65 and Glenstone Avenue.
The repairs are estimated to last until Sept. 22 and the cost is not yet known, Laurel McKean, MoDOT Southwest Assistant District Engineer, said Sept. 1. Crews must excavate an area about 30 feet wide and 60 feet long to an unknown depth, until they hit solid bedrock to build upon, McKean said.
MoDOT asks drivers to plan alternative routes, like using Battlefield Road and Sunshine Street instead of Highway 60 to access U.S. Highway 65. With a two-week notice, McKean said she hopes the traffic interruption won’t be as severe as the abrupt closure of the interchange Aug. 18.
“We know it’s going to be an inconvenience, but it’s something we have to do,” McKean said. “Find your alternate routes now.”
MoDOT engineers still expect delays during high traffic times, according to a press release issued Sept. 1.
